Starting my website wasn’t just about helping the industry, it was also to earn a little extra money, eventually making passive income so as to support my writing habit.
But it wasn’t until I started creating the following five post types that I saw real return on my writing efforts. This isn’t to say I stopped providing excellent content – quite the contrary. Instead, I provided a different type of value that also returned value to myself as well.
If you want to make affiliate sales, these five post types can be added to any type of niche, not just one on book marketing. So, check them out and start thinking about how you can create the sort of content that provides for your readers, but also offers natural ways to increase your bottom line.
1. List of tools or services
Every industry has some sort of tools or services that can help their readers.
You’ll help them understand what is out there, and give guidance on where their money is best spent.
Janice Hardy recently did a straightforward list of best tools for indie authors. While Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation compiled a list of top black Friday deals for his readers.
Both provide value, and yet offer an opportunity to make affiliate sales in the end.
2. Product review
If there is a product or service you use that you think would benefit your readers, then write about your experience. You’ve built trust, so might as well guide them for or against any products you deem necessary.
Your post could include an in-depth review of one paid product or course, like Jeff Goins did when he discovered Scrivener and dropped Word.
Or, you can create a negative review of a product like Ana Hoffman did with her Empower Network review. Granted a negative review probably won’t help you make affiliate sales directly, but it sure does build trust. That way, the next time you review a product, your readers will truly be ready for your verdict.
3. Product comparison
In addition to reviewing individual products, people also love comparison reviews. Personally, these are my favorite, because those who are interested in reading a comparison review are usually ready to buy, but aren’t sure which one.
By creating the article that helps to sway them towards one, you have the best chance of getting that final affiliate commission.
To see how this works in practice, check out the comparison of Smashwords and Draft2Digital from the SelfPublishing.com team.
4. Favorite books
If you can’t think of any product or service, you can always create a list of books as a post too. No matter what genre or niche you write in, there is an applicable set of books you can talk about.
It could be a giant themed list like Stephen King’s 96 Books for Aspiring Writers. Whether you write about technical or creative, there will always be applicable books out there for you to talk about.
Bonus Tip: An Amazon Affiliate link to a book doesn’t sound like it makes much money. However, you get a percentage of anything that person buys on Amazon within 24 hours of clicking your link.
5. Resources page
A resources page is a critical page to have on your website, and it’s proven to be extremely profitable. If you want to make affiliate sales, just ask Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income (SPI) how he does it.
Pat openly shares that his Resources page is his number one source of affiliate income (and have you seen this guy’s income reports?).
Here on Make a Living Writing, Carol Tice calls her resource page “Products I Love” in the navigation bar and lists the top products, services and books to help authors earn an income.
Just be sure to list products and services you truly have used and recommend. (Note: Obviously, a resources page is different than a blog post. But you can blog about the products and services you use featured on your resources page, and update this page from time to time as another way to make affiliate sales.)
Blogging to make affiliate sales: Your turn
No matter what niche your blog is in, these types of articles can help you make affiliate sales.
These types of blog posts do not require you to lower your standards or become a salesman. Instead they offer a new type of assistance to your readers and give you the opportunity to turn a bit of extra profit.
So, take a look at your niche, and ask yourself, what tools, services or books could your readers benefit from and which of the above blog posts would fit the bill.
Are you blogging to make affiliate sales, or just getting started? Let’s discuss in the comments below.
